The few who were sprawled out snoring were startled awake all at once. The one in the back seat called Jack Brooks tumbled onto the car floor, and as everyone opened their eyes, they saw James Brooks grinning mischievously!

The gunshots just now were actually James Brooks's customized phone ringtone, amplified through a speaker, making it deafening inside the vehicle.

James Brooks, the prankster, was laughing so hard he was doubled over.

"Go to hell!"

"Looking for a thrill, damn it!"

"Beat him up..."

"Trying to treat us to a meal or what!..."

Everyone glared angrily, and three police caps flew straight at James Brooks in the driver's seat. Having their sleep disturbed, none of them were happy, and each cursed at James Brooks.

James Brooks chuckled, pleased with the effect of his prank. Dodging the flying police caps, he suddenly started the car with a vroom, deliberately hit the brakes after releasing the clutch, and the jerky start sent everyone lurching back and forth. Only then did he shout, "Wake up, we're going home! Remember, stick to the same story—just say we stood guard all night and are exhausted! Maybe they'll even give us a day off! ...Wake up! No wonder the instructor calls you all a bunch of pigs—if you're not sleeping, you're eating!"

"You're the pig! You're the pig (team) leader!" Charles rubbed his eyes, making the three in the back burst out laughing.

Just as they started off, a few muffled gunshots rang out—bang, bang, bang—startling everyone. James Brooks, nervous, slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a screeching halt!

But these gunshots were real! As soon as they stopped, there was another bang, even clearer this time.

None of the five had ever experienced anything like this. They exchanged shocked, bewildered glances, and faintly heard another muffled gunshot in the distance... mixed with the sound of police sirens! Panic set in, and they all crowded around Jack Brooks's seat, nervously peering out the car window!

In the blink of an eye, less than a kilometer away, they spotted the outline of a car—a police car was in hot pursuit of an SUV, and it was obvious the gunshots had come from between the two vehicles!

"Whoa... a shootout!?"

"Holy crap, who's got the guts to take on the criminal police?"

"Team leader, what do we do!?"

They stared, adrenaline surging so much their hands and feet were almost cramping!

James Brooks made a snap decision, reversed the car to block the road, and whispered, "Out of the car..."

The five of them jumped out, facing the direction the SUV was coming from, all taking cover behind the police car...

The SUV sped closer and closer, tailing the police car. James Brooks's hands were trembling with nerves, and he cursed himself a thousand times in his head—he'd come here for safety, who knew he'd run right into danger? Looking left and right, he saw that of the four others, only Charles was relatively calm; the other three were squatting with shaking legs, nearly wetting themselves, all looking to him for guidance. James Brooks didn't have time to think it through. The sound of the approaching car grew louder, and he waved his hand, smacking Charles on the head and gritting his teeth as he shouted, "Brothers, go..."

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh... several figures darted out from behind the car...

Chapter 06: Racing for Their Lives

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh... several figures dashed out... like startled wild rabbits at dawn, sprinting at lightning speed!

James Brooks signaled to Charles, indicating the two teams should split up, one left, one right, with a single command: Go!

He wasn't signaling to charge forward, but for Charles to escape up the small hill to the right! The five of them were already in sync, and in an instant, they scattered!

This scene actually startled the people in the SUV! Just as they raised their guns, they saw the fun—three on the left, two on the right, all darting toward the sides of the road, over the hill, and down into the ditches. In the blink of an eye, they'd run dozens of meters! Hiding behind rocks and trees in the ditch, they'd all found cover!

Inside the SUV, there were a few loud laughs, and someone fired a shot into the air in mockery! They'd been worried about a roadblock ahead, but now the way was clear! The police car was empty.

In the pursuing police car, the Santana's performance on the mountain road was no match for the City Hunter SUV. Several shots failed to blow out the SUV's tires, and from a distance, they could see the police car blocking the road ahead. Just as they were feeling hopeful, the sight of the police officers fleeing made the female officer in the passenger seat glare in disbelief, pointing ahead: "Look, Captain Johnson, the ones manning the roadblock have all run off!"

The five behind the police car disappeared in a flash—clearly not an ambush!

"Bastards! What a disgrace!"

The burly Captain Johnson floored the gas pedal, but still couldn't catch up to the accelerating SUV. As he drove, he slammed the steering wheel in frustration, feeling like all their efforts had been wasted!

In an instant, the SUV floored it and rammed into the side of the Chang'an police van, flipping it onto its side at the edge of the road. The SUV charged straight ahead, roaring up the mountain...

The police car gave chase, and a few minutes later, a whole pack of police cars came roaring up in pursuit!

Half an hour later, the Santana broke down on the mountain road—the engine mount had cracked and was leaking oil. Furious, Captain Johnson called the county criminal investigation team: "Find out who from the Chengguan police station was on stakeout here and discipline them for me... They all ran faster than the suspects, cowards!"

Another half hour later, the county bureau chief called the police station: "Who was on stakeout at Wulong Pass? Report to me! You let the suspects get away—someone's going to be held responsible for this... Useless! Everyone at your Chengguan station is a bunch of useless idiots!"